Alumni Speak
‘Follow your passion’
Apeejay School, Saket alumna shares her journey from the corporate world to launching her own bakery brand
From managing corporate recruitments to crafting delectable cheesecakes and brownies, Apeejay School, Saket alumna Prerna Mehra has baked her way into success – quite literally. A Commerce student from the 2007 batch, Prerna is now the founder of Batter Up by Prerna Mehra, a thriving baking business supplying to cafés across Delhi-NCR. In this conversation, she opens up about her transformation from a headhunter to a head chef, how Apeejay shaped her creative instincts, and the passion that drives her kitchen.
How did Apeejay School, Saket influence your personality and future aspirations?
Apeejay played a major role in shaping who I am. I was always creatively inclined and very active in school – whether it was being on the prefectorial board, participating in dance, drama, skating, or art. Being a house captain brought out leadership skills in me, and the environment encouraged me to think outside the box, something I carry even today in my baking journey.
Walk us through your journey from graduation to entrepreneurship.
Post-school, I pursued Home Science at Lady Irwin and then did an MBA in HR from Amity University. I worked as a headhunter for nearly five years. While I did enjoy it to some extent, I always knew I wanted something more creative. Baking had always been a childhood passion, so I pursued a professional course from the Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts. I worked in the hotel industry for two years before starting my own cloud kitchen.
How did ‘Batter Up’ begin?
I set up a small cloud kitchen and spent months perfecting my recipes. Once I was confident, I distributed samples and pamphlets. My first customer was actually a friend of my mother’s, though she didn’t mention it initially! It was all very organic and word-of-mouth based. Over time, I began approaching cafés, pitching my products and supplying to several B2B clients.
What advice would you give to students who want to pursue baking professionally?
Follow your passion. Don’t fear switching paths, even if it’s later in life. If you truly love what you do, even sleepless nights during busy seasons feel worth it. Stay focused on quality, not quantity. It’s not about selling cheap – it’s about selling something memorable.
What’s next for ‘Batter Up’?
Right now, my core focus is B2B café supply, though I do B2C orders too. With customer retention being a top priority, I plan to expand thoughtfully – one batch at a time!
